A “GREEDY” mum who gave her £1million fortune to her daughters to avoid losing state benefits has been left with nothing.
Camilla Bains had her £295,000 divorce settlement paid to her kids and signed over her £800,000 house — but then wanted it all back.
Their relationship had soured — despite daughter Sonia donating her a kidney in 2017 when she needed a transplant.
The mum claimed she had only given Sonia, 38, and sister Sharn, 29, the money to look after.
Suing at Central London County Court, she claimed the sisters “colluded to make up a story” to keep her out of her wealth.
Camilla’s lawyers argued that although Sonia’s name was on the house, it had been agreed that her mother was the true beneficial owner of the five-bed property.
However, sports doctor Sonia branded her mum “motivated by greed” and “jealous”.
Camilla was divorced from her husband in 2011, but the financial wrangling between them dragged on until it was finally settled in 2019.
She transferred the £295,000 from the settlement to her two daughters despite being warned by her lawyers of the risk of benefit fraud.
The mother also handed over ownership of her £800,000 house in Sutton to Sonia after moving out of their matrimonial home because her ex lived nearby.
But a bitter court row soon erupted after the family later fell out.
Judge Nigel Gerald ruled Camilla, who is on benefits due to her ill health, had no claim over the money or the house in Sutton, Surrey.
He said: “Mother was consciously divesting herself of her assets to retain her benefits.
[bc_video account_id=”5067014667001″ application_id=”” aspect_ratio=”16:9″ autoplay=”” caption=”Labour unveils raft of benefits CUTS with PIP eligibility to take huge hit” embed=”in-page” experience_id=”” height=”100%” language_detection=”” max_height=”360px” max_width=”640px” min_width=”0px” mute=”” padding_top=”56%” picture_in_picture=”” player_id=”default” playlist_id=”” playsinline=”” sizing=”responsive” video_id=”6370186431112″ video_ids=”” width=”640px”]“She had been alerted as to the risks of benefit fraud in May 2019. She wanted to get shot of this property so she could protect her benefits.
“It would be wrong to reach the conclusion either daughter has done the dirty on their mother.”
Although Camilla had received the former matrimonial home in the settlement, she wanted to move as her ex was still living next door and so a new house was bought in Rosehill Garden.
The judge said the house was in her daughter Sonia’s name, but that documents signed by mother and daughter made it clear that Camilla was the true owner.
Judge Gerald said that, although Sonia’s name was on the house, it had been agreed that her mother was the true beneficial owner.
But that changed when she was warned by her lawyers around the time of the 2019 divorce payout of the risk of benefit fraud.
A key letter was signed around that time in which the mother said she no longer had any ownership of the house and that she had burned previous trust deeds, he said.
“In my judgement, it is plain that this document was legally effective and binding,” he said.
Giving judgement, Judge Gerald described a “very sad, troubled and unfortunate family.”
He added: “It would be an understatement to say that there has been a high degree of animosity, if not hate, between the children and the mother.”
The court decision means Sonia is true owner of the house and £55,000 of the money paid to her, while Sharn owns the £240,000 she got.
The other £45,000 which went to Sonia was for the benefit of her brother, the Judge found.
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